title: [Soft tissue profile changes in micrognathia after distraction osteogenesis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of distraction osteogenesis for severe micrognathia by comparing the pre- and post-operative profile and mentolabial relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 cases underwent temporal-mandibular joint plasty and temporal fasciomuscular flap transfer. The mandibular distraction began at the 5th postoperative day at a rate of 0.8 mm a day, two times a day. Bony and soft tissue cephalometry were performed before and after operation. T-test was used to study the change after distraction osteogenesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in facial convexity, lower facial height, lower lip length, inter-labial distance, the ratio of lip to mental, the distance from lip to esthetic plane, the depth of mentolabial crease and the thickness of mental soft tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular distraction osteogenesis can markedly improve the soft tissue profile of the middle and lower face for severe micrognathia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2nd Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fei-Yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: Feng-Guo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yi-Dan
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Shan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008844:Micrognathism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction; D011184:Postoperative Period